Should Michigan Ban Sharia Law?

DETROIT (1270 Talk Radio) Does Michigan need legislation that would ban the Islamic-based series of codes known as Sharia law?

Cooley Law School Professor William Wagner and Dawud Walid of the Center for American Islamic relations weighed in on the topic on Charlie Langton’s Talk Radio 1270 show as state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville, tries to push it through the House of Representatives.

The bill sponsored by Agema doesn’t mention Sharia law specifically, but it does ban Michigan from enforcing any law created by a foreign entity.

“The reason that I think the legislators have introduced that is that when courts do so, when courts rely on another nation, they are relying on law that nobody in Michigan, nobody in the United States had any part in making,” Wagner said.

Are courts using foreign laws from other countries? Langton asked.

“Yes, that’s exactly what is behind the introduction of this bill,” Wagner said, adding, “It’s certainly happening in other states around the country as well.”

“What we’re really talking about is a fear of Sharia law,” Langton said

Walid called it “purely political shenanigans,” adding that the U.S. Constitution prohibits any foreign law trumping an American law.

“This is really about Islam and those who say it’s to protect our nation’s laws .. I think they’re being extremely disingenuousness,” Walid said, adding that it’s “fear mongering.”

Walid added that religious-based laws in support of polygamy aren’t allowed, nor would any religious statute that allowed grown men to marry children — because law trumps any religious policy.

“I think we’re dealing with a non-existent threat,” Dawud said. “Agema has been involved in some of the most far right Xenophobic bills … He’s also introduced in the past year, he’s using these issues to make a name for himself… I think he’s using these types of non-issues.

But, is he right?

“That’s the whole point, if this was a non-issue and there was no need for it, I’m surprised to see so many people coming forward voraciously opposing it … International law is a serious threat,” Wagner said.